Guest Post/Virtual Tour with Giveaway ~ The Mirror Said Your Be-You-Tiful by Austiage

The inspiration for my book came from the most extraordinary scenario, it was during a visit to the Children’s hospital I met a girl named Julianne who proposed the question “When you look in the mirror does it tell you you’re ugly?” I remember being instantly taken aback that such a young and beautiful girl was asking such a question. I instantly responded “Of course not the mirror always tells you you’re beautiful.” But Julianne was not convinced and from there we began to chat I shared my experiences the good and the bad. I shared with her what I had learned through living my life in both the public eye as well as out. It was captivating and beautiful because my conversation with Julianne reminded me of those that I often have and had with my Mother sitting on the kitchen countertop and just chatting about anything and everything. Julianne and I’s conversation had a level of authenticity and consideration that is rare in todays society. Finally a few hours after chatting our conversation came to an end and as I got up to leave Julianne asked me if I had a mirror, so I gave her my compact that I always kept in my purse she looked in the mirror and said “Now I see it the mirror does say you’re beautiful.” In that moment a sentence clicked for me, and it was the mirror said you’re beyoutiful. But instead of spelling beautiful the traditional way I chose to spell it beyoutiful to represent that one will only feel beautiful when you decide to be no one but yourself. Knowing that my conversation with Julianne had an impact beyond what I could have ever imagined led to want to share that conversation with more people, so I thought what better way to do so then to write a book. My conversation with Julianne left me inspired and it was in that instant and all that followed. I broke down and analyzed my conversation with Julianne and figured out how to translate that authenticity, warmth, and impact to paper. Five months latter my book The Mirror Said You’re BeYouTiful was a completed manuscript.

In her motivational self-help book, THE MIRROR SAID, “YOU’RE BE-YOU-TIFUL,” former elite athlete Austiage offers readers a foundation for embracing their unique beauty in a world that doesn’t always value diversity and individuality. Writing in a welcoming, conversational style, Austiage outlines a plan for embracing a positive self-image that develops from the inside out.

An unexpected question (“Does the mirror make you feel ugly?”) was the spark that led Austiage to pen THE MIRROR SAID, “YOU’RE BE-YOU-TIFUL.” She met the young girl, Julianne, who posed the question while donating supplies to a children’s hospital. After talking with the girl about beauty and what it means, the author felt moved to share her thoughts with others on this delicate subject, which many people—young and old, male and female—frequently struggle with. The book has a powerful message that begins by focusing on the individual.

Austiage asserts that beauty is much more than aesthetic. She emphasizes that character is an essential component of beauty and encourages readers to bolster their character by being positive and kind to themselves and others. The author repeatedly stresses the importance of having a strong belief in one’s self and explains how this belief affects how people see themselves, the type of people they invite into their lives, and the manner in which they take care of themselves and pursue their goals.

THE MIRROR SAID, “YOU’RE BE-YOU-TIFUL” takes an in-depth look at the necessity of self-care including eating well without foregoing pleasure, incorporating fitness and relaxation in one’s daily life, using makeup to highlight and enhance one’s beauty, discarding fear and doubt to follow opportunities to find one’s passion, and reevaluating relationships to make conscious decisions about the people in one’s life.

Austiage says, “In my point of view, my book is about helping those who are at the point in their lives that they want to feel better about themselves. I think my book will help people understand that they aren’t the only contributing factor in feeling good or bad about themselves. Rather, the everyday lifestyle choices they make, the people they surround themselves with, and the words they use all merge to develop a feeling unique to how they feel about their identity. Learning how to break down different aspects of daily life and to reevaluate them will dramatically change the way they perceive themselves.” Austiage wrote THE MIRROR SAID, “YOU’RE BE-YOU-TIFUL” “to help everyone understand that they have the ability to feel beautiful. Ultimately, I want readers to step away from my book feeling happiness, beauty, and pride from the inside out.”

Austiage is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Terms & Conditions:

By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.

One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter.

This giveaway ends midnight November 30.

Winner will be contacted via email on December 1.

Winner has 48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

Austiage is a former national-level champion fencer who was born in Washington, DC. She speaks seven languages, attended American University, and is the founder of the Star Individuality Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports youths in developing their unique individuality. Her book The Mirror Said, “You’re Be-You-Tiful” explores the societal pressures that many people are faced with today and offers a game plan for nurturing individuality and owning one’s beauty.

Finding your skills and talents—and using them—helps you become your best, beautiful self. Maybe you know exactly what your talents are, or maybe you need to find them. But everyone has a purpose on earth, and it is found through our talents and passions. If you don’t know what your purpose is, you can find it. In reality, you actually do know what your purpose is—you are the sole authority on who you are. Maybe your talent is hidden and you have to find it. Or maybe you have taken your talent for granted and no longer look upon it as a talent. Either way it is there and it has always been there and all you have to do is notice it and embrace it.

To identify your purpose, ask yourself, “What makes me smile? What makes me happy?” Then analyze your answers. It may not always seem clear at first, so keep thinking. For example going out to restaurants with your friends and trying new foods makes you the happiest. Most likely your purpose is not eating, but it may be becoming a chef who creates new foods. Pay particular attention to environments you are attracted to. What you enjoy doing, where you enjoy being, who you enjoy spending time with—these are all part of your purpose in life.

When you feel lost in your life, remember that no one is born found; at some point we need to be lost in order to be found. When I’m feeling lost, I’ve learned not to say that I am lost (that has a negative connotation); instead I say I am currently on the path to becoming found.

Your purpose cannot come by force, finding passions and your purpose in life will come when it is time. You will find it even if you are feeling lost and destroyed. Many times we need to break in order to be rebuilt into who we are supposed to become.

Once you’re purpose is clear, you become motivated. Self-motivation is so beautiful and attractive, although it is not something aesthetic. Be the person who wakes up with a purpose in life. Be the person who will chase their own dreams. People will only start to motivate you when they realize that you already are motivated.

Being self-motivated is not only something that others are attracted to, but being a self-motivated individual gives you a purpose in life which is then going to create confidence within oneself. Feeling beautiful always comes down to feeling confident and pride in ones self.

So many times when we think of being self-motivated as something that is difficult or we wonder if we have it in us to motivate ourselves. In reality becoming self-motivated is 4 simple P’s: Passion, Purpose, Position and Positivity.

§ Passion: Ask yourself the questions: What am I passionate about? What do I love? What do I never get tired of doing? If you can find something you are genuinely passionate about you will always have a feeling of motivation regardless of how hard you need to work to accomplish the goals you have set. When you are also focused on doing something that you have a passion about you will also be a happier person overall. Purpose: you now have a passion you want to be involved in, now comes the tricky part is to determine what your mission is. You can find your purpose my asking yourself these questions: What about my passion inspires me? When determine what inspires within in a certain topic you have purpose because you know understand how you want to be involved within your passion.

Position: Being able to figure out what it is that you want to do within this topic is crucial. The best way to do this is to just get our a piece of paper and pen and just start to brainstorm all the different positions you could to take on with that passion, and once you have a list then just starting to number then in order of priority—based on your skills and goals. From there you’ll be able to determine what position you want to take on.

Positive: Finally the last key on being able to being a self-motivated individual is to always have a positive outlook on the situation. Obviously there are highs and lows in life, so even if you are involved with some- thing that you are passionate about there are going to be times where not everything will go as you had planned. But understanding these situations and anticipating them will allow you to keep a positive outlook and will allow you to stay self-driven.

Sounds like an amazing book. I find it hard to feel beautiful and then I feel stupid for wanting to be beautiful, don't want to be seen as vain or something. But its important to take care of yourself.